Open primaries should stay open to both parties, voters

The hard-core party faithful might approve of legislation to require party registration in primary elections, since eliminating open primaries could strengthen their influence over the outcome. But it would remove a moderating influence that South Carolina needs as it elects its leaders.

A House bill, sponsored by a Greenville Republican, to open primaries only to registered party members deserves to be rejected.

The influence of independent voters brings a broader view to the polls. As such, it shifts the focus of candidates who are seeking votes in the primary process. They have to broaden their appeal to a wider group of voters. They can’t as easily pitch their candidacies solely on ideological grounds.

Public financing can be justified only for primary elections open to all South Carolinians who are qualified to vote. And having primaries under the authority of state and local election commissions is needed to ensure a higher level of integrity than elections conducted by the parties. The operation of primaries by election commissions also ensures that they can be held in every county throughout the state.

That’s important to maintaining a healthy two-party system.

Sure, it rankles supporters of a particular candidate who believe, rightly or wrongly, that their candidate has suffered as a result of crossover voting. That possibility was most recently discussed prior to the recent presidential preference primary. ...

The fear that Democrats would skew the process clearly was unwarranted in that instance.

Closing primaries and requiring party registration to vote in them isn’t worth leaving the large percentage of independent voters out of the process. Their involvement in the electoral system is beneficial to South Carolina, both in primary and general elections.

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